Umbra

Finsa x Tinkah

An immersive design installation that invites audiences to explore the interplay of shadow and light cast through a series of colourful architectural grids, drawing inspiration from the Mashrabiya.

Created by Finsa, a pioneer in the manufacturing of particleboard and MDF, the project is entirely composed of their innovative material Fibracolour; fully pigmented particleboard, for the first time in collaboration with Tinkah, a UAE/UK design firm, who have imagined this material into geometric lattices forming the entry into Dubai Design Week.

The Mashrabiya, an element of traditional Middle Eastern architecture, was historically used as a window or spatial partition. Mashrabiyas’ geometric perforations enable occupants to observe activity without themselves being visible, and simultaneously prevents the sun from overheating homes by limiting the light allowed in while still inviting a breeze.

The reimagined partitions give way to a peppering of creative products and furniture highlighting the vibrant colours found through the core of the Fibracolor material. While visitors interact with the structure and objects, the sun will paint shadow patterns across the guests and surfaces within.

About Finsa

With more than 80 years of history, Finsa has been a pioneer in the development of wood solutions for interior design and furniture in the Iberian Peninsula. They currently have a presence in over 80 countries and have been in the Middle East for over 28 years.

Since their beginnings, they have been ever-conscious of the responsibility of using wood as the base element to their products. Continually learning from it, they incorporate many of its virtues into their organization; its versatility, and strength as well as emotional closeness to people, and the comfort it brings to society.

Finsa considers itself a part of the full natural cycle, taking care of both the raw material as well as the forest and environment. Following the path of the industry, which is based on a circular economy, their products are present today in more than 80 countries being part of the spaces we live in.

Finsa’s commitment to design is present in the development of their products and processes, regularly holding design events and producing their own trendbooks.

About Tinkah

Tinkah is a multidisciplinary design firm. Their wide scope of capabilities encourages us towards unique expressions and narratives. Tinkah are artists, designers, and artisans working towards culturally relevant solutions.The icon Tinkah, is a utilitarian tin container historically tailored for different purposes. It is this multi-functional ethos that we apply to our thinking.

Carlos Gris gained a BA honours degree in Architecture and a Masters commendation in Production Design at Kingston University, in South London. His career started 10 years ago at the BBC, working up to Art Director level within film set design for various programs. After 3 years at the BBC, Carlos focussed in on the field of experience design within the automotive sector at Imagination. With clients such as Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin - it was an opportunity to combine his love of a premium aesthetic with his passion for emotive environments. With a continuous thirst for challenges he has tackled many different sectors of design including retail design, industrial design and architecture. He has designed articulated installations for international galleries, a bird sanctuary set within an agricultural landscape, an eco-sculpture on the backdrop of the Arabian Desert and a gallery space set within Jean Nouvel’s Institut du Monde Arabe. He now leads the experiential department for Tinkah.